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9/29/2014

When characters revolt

So I’ve probably said it before, but I’ll say it again.
Writing fiction does weird things to your head.

I’ve always had a bit of a screw loose (don’t laugh, Dad). I
know. But writing fiction takes my oddness to a whole new level. So let me tell
you a bit what it’s like when your characters decide that they’re real people. And
don’t believe you when you try to say otherwise.

In the book I wrote, Dissident, my female character is Shiloh. I wanted
her to follow in the footsteps of the other strong feminine warrior heroes. With
girls like Katniss and Tris to live up to, she needed to be fierce or get out
of the way.

But. One day I was twiddling around, trying to avoid
responsibility and so I sat down with Pinterest to find some visuals. Ok. I
decided to take her shopping. Shiloh and I. Shopping on Pinterest. Weird things
to your head I tell you.

So anyway I was trying to figure out weapons and such, and
she told me she didn’t want a sword. She wanted lace. LACE. I died just a bit
when she said that. How am I supposed to have a warrior in a lacy top.
Seriously. But she wasn’t kidding. Then she picked out a gold necklace that she
wanted (which incidentally made it into the book, her picking out a gold
necklace in town) because SHE WAS A GIRL and wanted to be treated LIKE A GIRL.

Who was I to argue?

So after her little “don’t give me a sword tantrum” I was
left to figure out how to deal with this heroine who needed to learn how to be
fierce without a weapon in her hand. I think as the story continues (still
collecting ideas, but I think I’ll be able to complete the story with three
books) I think you’ll be pleased to see how Shiloh figures out how to wage
battle against her enemy without the sword I tried to give her. How to fight corruption
and injustice on her own terms. How wars are one with words instead of with weapons.

Which is so much better than what I had originally figured
out.

Strange things to your head I tell you. Characters that
write their own stories.